a new driveway

[another generation]

Is he the bloke who... pebble-dashed the back wall, about thirty years ago?

Dortee fooker

The wall looks okay now - we painted over his mess!

 

[Feed the Elk]

would like a new driveway at some point this year but i cannot decide what type of surface i want..

does anybody know what the pros and cons there are between tarmac, printed concrete or block paving and what you would expect to pay for a standard size drive..

the driveway is around 30 foot x 10 foot

Weird - are you me?!
Am also in need of the above (and spookily similar dimensions) - prob go for block paving but will also need a bit of a frot garden with tree digging out first. Probably go for the block paving option too - ball park, how much would I/we be looking at?

 

[msl]

Fantastic thread! If anyone knows the price of a 25 - 30 sq.m. tarmac job, I'm all ears...been considering this for a while

 

[2sheikhs]

TARMAC- If any of it's in the shade, or there's a lot of trees about (leaves in autumn) then you run the risk of algae growing. Unless you treat it regularly it could get slippy and degrade the surface. Also if the type of tarmac isn't right, then the stones could come lose and it looks shite.

CONCRETE IMPRINTING - Looks alright to start with, but after time, for the above reasons, it can get slippy with algae and general sludge. If there's also regular wear and tear in one place such as a car, or wheelie bins going over a particular spot, the colouring can start to fade or scratch

BLOCK PAVING - If the surface isn't absolutely level and properly compacted, you may experience dips when say you park your car every day. It's also prone to getting moss in the gaps between the bricks.

GRAVEL - Unless you want to be sweeping the gravel back onto your drive from the pathway every week, it's fine!

I do gardens all the time with all the above type of driveways, so I can see how they degrade over time.

Given the choice, I'd go with block paving. It's easy to repair (say if, the gas board come round and have to dig it up) and looks quite nice. However, if I got it done, I'd make sure they compact the hardcore underneath to f**k and make sure it won't sink. I'd also make sure the sand in between was done properly, and seal the shite out of it. I've seen driveways that were done properly, sealed and everything and they've kept in mint condition.

100% this. If you end up doing the job yourself, hire out a 1 ton roller. Wacker plates are pretty useless really.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Did they make flags illegal or summat?

 

[scall11]

Cheers Scall,

Have you seen any of those resin driveways, we got a leaflet thru the door the other week and it looks quite good although i would imagine expensive.

Probably is. Looks pretty good though. Only downside is that if it needs repairing (Say the utilities need sorting, there's some sort of drainage problem, oil leek in the car etc) doing a patch repair would be a bit of a nightmare.

I'l also worry about leaves getting left over winter and it causing algae problems...I'm a gardener, I worry about such things.

I'd go for block paving or large slabs for a driveway.

There is the gravel option though. Although I'd go for one with a completely non-penetrative weedproof membrane underneath, with a honeycomb plastic support system underneath and then gravel. I've seen these in action, and they look pretty decent. You can also use a similar system with grass growing through the membrane. Not seen it up close though.

 

[Swordfish7]

Cheers Scall,

Have you seen any of those resin driveways, we got a leaflet thru the door the other week and it looks quite good although i would imagine expensive.

http://www.pavingexpert.com/resin.htm

All about resin. They do look the business. Will be getting mine done when I finish on my house.

 

[bobmcfc]

At horticulture college I went on a field trip to a brick factory in Middlesbrough to learn about paving. I challenge anyone to proffer a more depressing day out.

How about horticulture full stop, fucking hated it.

 

[yayas trusty right foot]

Cheers Scall,

Have you seen any of those resin driveways, we got a leaflet thru the door the other week and it looks quite good although i would imagine expensive.

http://www.pavingexpert.com/resin.htm

All about resin. They do look the business. Will be getting mine done when I finish on my house.

The resin job looks like the stuff they use on playgrounds, we have one on the green across the road from our house and its curling up and shrunk around the edges.

Pity because it look quite nice.